TDOT: Don't park along roadways to watch the solar eclipse

Tennessee is expected to have plenty of prime viewing spots when the total summer eclipse cuts a wide swath across the state Aug. 21. 

But pulled over on the shoulder of the roadway shouldn't be one of them, Tennessee Department of Transportation officials say.

"That is the worst possible place," said TDOT spokesman Mark Nagi.

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Warnings to remind motorists not to park along interstates and other roadways during the eclipse are expected to appear on TDOT's digital message boards beginning next week.

"We're stressing the importance of motorists not pulling the car over on the shoulder ... or stopping in the lane of traffic," Nagi said. "That is extremely dangerous."

The natural phenomenon, which hasn't been visible in the continental United States since 1979, is expected to draw big crowds to Tennessee communities directly in the lunar shadow's path, such Crossville, Spring City, Dayton and Lenoir City.

That means lots of travelers, Nagi said.

"We're treating this just like we would any high-traffic volume event, like the Bristol race or Bonnaroo," he said.

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All the more reason, Nagi said, for motorists to not park along the roadway.

"They need to make sure they have a game plan that day," he said.